Patrick Coursey '11

When I was searching for colleges in High School I had a
hard time finding the right balance between what I wanted to study and the right
type of class environment. The Thompson School
ended up being a perfect match for me. I
have always been a hands-on kind of person so the small class sizes and the
personal relationships that the teachers created were great. Not many people can say that they called their
professors by their first name! The wide
variety of classes by the CT (Civil Technology) program was fantastic. To be able to study Surveying & Mapping
in one hour and Welding in the next kept things fresh and more enjoyable. Probably, what was my best experience at the
Thompson School was how the classes where structured just like it would be in
the field. Instead of being stuck in the
class room where there were no opportunities to practice, the Thompson School provided
what they called, outdoor "Labs."
These labs helped me relate better to what I was actually going to do
someday. Also instead of being limited
to certain times when you could ask questions, the CT building (Putnam) was
open almost 24hrs a day. You could go
in, discuss questions with professors and or have full access to the computer
labs and equipment.

What I liked best about UNH was the ability to live and
socialize on a campus with a large amount of people but still have that small
town feel. I came from a small town and
was happy to find people with my same interests. If it wasn't for UNH I wouldn't have met the
people that I did. Some of them are
friends that I will have for the rest of my life.

Currently, I am working for a local general contractor
call R.M. Piper INC. We focus on bridge
building/reconstruction, concrete, and site work. Out of college I was hired on as a laborer,
but it wasn't long before I was given a chance to use my skills acquired at the
Thompson School. A year after graduation
I was given my first job to run a NHDOT road project. Aided by my skills from UNH, I was able to
finish the job and was actually personally requested back by NHDOT last summer
(2012) to do additional work. Since then,
I have been promoted to the title of foreman and have been using my skills in
surveying and layout to help build jobs. I have also been able to assist in job
estimation and takeoff.

The Thompson School helped me get to where I am today by
giving me usable skills that apply to my career field. The professors at the CT
program have actually worked and have years of experience in the field that they
are teaching. Having been at the
Thompson School has helped to get me noticed and has given me a chance to prove
my worth in the work place.

My goals for the future are to keep building on what I
have learned by gaining experience and to use my knowledge to advance in my
field so I can build a good life for myself. Someday I would even like to be able to come
back to school and further advance my skills.